TONYA MOSLEY, HOST:

That is FRESH AIR. Composer Darcy James Argue grew up in Canada and studied in Boston earlier than shifting to New York, the place he shaped his large band, The Secret Society, in 2005. The band earned excessive reward from critics and has carried out in lots of high-profile showcases. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says their new album is certain to unfold the phrase.

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “YOUR ENEMIES ARE ASLEEP”)

KEVIN WHITEHEAD, BYLINE: Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society on “Your Enemies Are Asleep,” tailored from an outdated Ukrainian tune, “In Solidarity.” The title of the band’s? New – double album, “Dynamic Most Stress,” references twentieth century futurist designer Buckminster Fuller and in addition the outdated Charles Atlas Dynamic Stress bodybuilder course. Argue runs a jazz large band, an establishment from the final century, however imagines its sound as if large bands hadn’t pale away however stayed present. His smooth constructions have well-toned, muscular elements – Bucky Fuller meets Charles Atlas.

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “CODEBREAKER”)

WHITEHEAD: Darcy James Argue has labored onerous to advertise his Secret Society, branding its fashion as steampunk again when that was a factor, and now tapping Cecile McLorin Salvant to sing a relatively cutesy quantity on the brand new album. “Dynamic Most Stress” on Nonesuch is their first for a significant label, which says all of it in regards to the business viability of recent large bands, even one hailed for its post-rock, post-hip-hop grooving. This is not Woody Herman enjoying “Proud Mary.”

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “ALL IN”)

WHITEHEAD: For all the trendy touches, Darcy James Argue allows you to hear what he inherits. The best way he’ll droop a fancy superstructure over a syncopated bass lick is straight out of Gil Evans’ “Time Of The Barracudas.” And Argue’s comfortable chord voicings nod to his mentor, trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, whose orchestrations additionally demonstrated the virtues of restraint, of holding a band again. That is from Argue’s tribute to Brookmeyer, “Winged Beasts.” Ryan Keberle is on trombone, Jon Wikan on drums.

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “WINGED BEASTS”)

WHITEHEAD: Darcy James Argue’s ballad “Final Waltz For Levon” salutes the singing drummer with the band The Band, Levon Helm. It alludes a couple of methods to Levon’s signature music, “The Night time We Drove Previous Dixie Down” (ph), not least in Matt Clohesy’s electrical bass half. His solo simply hints at Rick Danko’s tuba-like bass with The Band, laying groundwork for a elaborate showcase citation close to the top. It is placing, however there is a catch. If you evoke a traditional tune, your new melody has to face up to comparability.

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “LAST WALTZ FOR LEVON”)

WHITEHEAD: And listening to Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, I am impressed by the music’s readability, textural distinction and glossy surfaces, his ingenuity and energetic rhythms, impeccable ensemble enjoying and positive soloists like trumpeters Ingrid Jensen and Matt Holman. I confess I usually discover Argue’s bass elements extra memorable than his melodies, however his music has a lot else going for it, it is nonetheless fairly OK.

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “WINGED BEASTS”)

MOSLEY: Kevin Whitehead is the writer of the books “Play The Method You Really feel: The Important Information To Jazz Tales On Movie,” “Why Jazz?” and “New Dutch Swing.” He reviewed Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society’s new album, “Dynamic Most Stress.” If you would like to make amends for FRESH AIR interviews you missed, try our podcast. You will discover numerous latest interviews, like with filmmaker Werner Herzog, actor Greta Lee and McKay Coppins, the writer of a brand new ebook about Mitt Romney. Take heed to FRESH AIR wherever you get your podcasts. And to maintain up with what’s on the present and get highlights of our interviews, comply with us on Instagram @nprfreshair.

Our interviews and critiques are produced and edited by Amy Salit, Phyllis Myers, Roberta Shorrock, Sam Briger, Lauren Krenzel, Heidi Saman, Ann Marie Baldonado, Therese Madden, Seth Kelley and Susan Nyakundi. Our digital media producer is Molly Seavy-Nesper. Thea Chaloner directed in the present day’s present. For Terry Gross, I am Tonya Mosley.

(SOUNDBITE OF DARCY JAMES ARGUE’S SECRET SOCIETY’S “WINGED BEASTS”)

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